Sampling the best of Tales of the Cocktail

Updated 1:27 am, Saturday, August 4, 2012

The current lineup of Root, Snap and Rhubarb from Art in the Age of Spirits from William Grant & Sons that were available in the tasting room at 2012 Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans.

The current lineup of Root, Snap and Rhubarb from Art in the Age of Spirits from William Grant & Sons that were available in the tasting room at 2012 Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans.

Photo: Dom Savini

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Among the best products at Tales of the Cocktail 2012: Ginger Syrup by the Ginger People.

Among the best products at Tales of the Cocktail 2012: Ginger Syrup by the Ginger People.

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The Texas Single Malt Whisky from Balcones Distilling was featured at Tales of the Cocktail's Taste the World's Best Spirits Grand Tasting.

The Texas Single Malt Whisky from Balcones Distilling was featured at Tales of the Cocktail's Taste the World's Best Spirits Grand Tasting.

Sampling the best of Tales of the Cocktail

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NEW ORLEANS — Tales of the Cocktail, the biggest cocktail conference of its kind, celebrated its 10th anniversary here with a bang. It's impossible to sample the hundreds of products offered — especially with the heat during the last week of July — but I gave it the good old college try. Those that rose to the top are worth further review.

Most of these products are available in San Antonio, but it's a good idea to call ahead to verify.

Art in the Age Spirits

This Pennsylvania company (artintheage.com) infuses organic ingredients with neutral grain spirit to produce a line of unique 80-proof spirits in intense flavors of Rhubarb, Root and (ginger) Snap (Sage will be available next summer). They can be used in cocktails or simply enjoyed neat. Root pays homage to Charles Hires, a Philadelphia pharmacist who introduced his nonalcoholic root beer at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia during the Temperance movement. If you love ginger snaps, try them in the liquid form of Snap.

The variations of ginger used in cocktails prompted a story in this space two weeks ago. It was also a common ingredient at Tales of the Cocktail, and a line of 80 products for sampling by the Ginger People (gingerpeople.com) takes the labor out of this rhizome for the home cook. Among the items offered are candied ginger, ginger syrup, minced ginger and ginger juice that could be used in a wide range of cocktails or recipes.

Find it: Ginger syrup is available at Whole Foods and World Market; minced ginger is available at Central Market.

Texas, our Texas

More than one person did a double take when they stopped to taste Balcones Distillery Single-Malt Whisky during the Taste the World's Best Spirits Grand Tasting. “Whiskey from Texas?” was the general reaction. One attendee was rounding up people to give it a try; it and the Rumble Cask Reserve from the Waco distillery impressed all. A lucky few also tasted a sample of what's to come — Balcones Distilling Rum, which is due out “when it's ready.”

There seemed to be a bigger rum presence this year, although it's quite possible that I missed them last year. While all of the samples were delicious, there were a few standouts. Ron Diplomático (rondiplomatico.com) sampled its entire line of products from Venezuela. Among the favorites: the Reserva that is aged for eight years and washes a rich, buttery sweetness over the palate; and the Reserva Exclusiva, aged for 12 years, with smooth notes of toffee and vanilla. At the grand tasting, the multi-cask-aged Dos Maderas (rondosmaderas.com) impressed. The rums are first aged in Caribbean, then shipped to Spain to be aged in sherry casks. Those notes come through, along with rich molasses and vanilla flavors.